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ABUJA, Nigeria (NAN) - Nigeria has been selected to host the third installment of the Forum of African Defence and War Colleges’ Commandants (FADWCC) in 2026.
This information is contained in a statement issued to journalists by the public relations officer of the National Defence College (NDC), Navy Capt. Muhammed Tukur, on Sunday in Abuja.
Capt. Tukur noted that the announcement of the hosting rights was made by Col.-Maj. Lahcen El-Hajjami, the director of the Royal College of Higher Military Studies (CREMS) in Morocco, during the recently concluded second edition of the forum.
He mentioned that the decision was reached following a unanimous vote by the attending member countries.
He further explained that this hosting privilege makes Nigeria the second nation to host the forum, as well as the first Anglophone country to do so.
“The FADWCC was established in 2024 to strengthen partnerships between defense and war colleges.
It also aims to address common challenges faced by African nations while boosting collaboration in advanced military education.
The leader of Nigeria’s delegation and commandant of NDC Nigeria, Rear Adm. Olumuyiwa Morakinyo Olotu, accepted the hosting rights on behalf of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and received the symbolic hosting flag from his Moroccan counterpart,” he stated.
According to Tukur, the 2025 FADWCC which focused on the theme, “Artificial Intelligence and Defence,” was attended by commandants from 14 African countries.
The participating countries included Angola, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, and Zambia.
“The attendance saw a remarkable growth from the 8 countries present at the inaugural edition in 2024.
It is anticipated that the Third Edition in Abuja in 2026 will see an increased attendance from more commandants of defense and war colleges across Africa.
The Nigerian delegation also comprised the commandants of the Army, Navy, and Air Force War Colleges, their spouses, and some academic staff from the four institutions,” he added.
In his address, Rear Adm. Olumuyiwa Morakinyo Olotu, the commandant of NDC, expressed Nigeria’s commitment to hosting a suitable forum in Abuja in 2026.
He expressed gratitude to his peers for the trust placed in Nigeria to host the next edition of the forum and promised to exceed the high standards established by Morocco.
